In school, some of our classmates were quick to call Nastya a stuck-up bitch because she never shied away from stating her opinion instead of sugarcoating the truth or telling straight-up lies.
“I’ve always admired how honest you are, and I know you have my back.” I wink at her. “Even though I don’t always want to listen to you.”
She points at me. “More often than I’d like, but we’re working on it.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
Nose scrunched, she goes back to mopping. “The longer I’m here, the more it feels like the fire was in your apartment, not upstairs. The smell is outrageous.”
With a sigh, I sweep some soot off the shelf. “I was hoping for a couple of relaxing days. Instead, I got smoke and a smell that probably won’t go away for weeks.”
Nastya walks to the open window, leans over the window frame, and inhales. “God, I miss fresh air.”
I laugh, though I can’t say I feel any joy. Not only because of the fire, but because my damn thoughts have been spiraling nonstop since Friday night.
The damn smile Hayden gave that blonde.
Handling me like a child then almost calling me his best friend’s little sister.
Lips pursed, I scrub the shelf harder. The memories of that night resurface, and my blood boils. Admittedly, some of them are blurry, but the pain of finally admitting to myself that he’ll never see me as anything but Piper’s sister lingers in my heart.
But I can’t even be mad at him, not really. He never gave me falsehope. He never led me on. My feelings are a hundred percent unrequited. When he proposed his ridiculous plan, it really was because he needed a distraction from his grief. Regardless of what I hoped for, there was no underlying motivation.
The knock on the door snaps me out of my doom spiral.
“I swear, if it’s that nosy old lady from 31B again…” Nastya hisses, marching across the room.
I pause my scrubbing, and when a familiar voice rumbles, “Hi there,” I’m ready to bolt.
Of course it’s Hade.
He’s standing in the hallway, wearing a black tee that makes him look too damn good, his expression frustratingly calm, like I didn’t ask him for space just yesterday.
Frowning, I cross my arms. “What are you doing here?”
Hands in his pockets, he steps inside. “Pip called. Said she’s been calling and texting but hasn’t heard from you. She’s worried.”
Shit. My phone must still be on Do Not Disturb.
I rub my temples. “We’ve been cleaning. Trying to get rid of this goddamn smell.”
“The whole building stinks.” He scans my face. “You okay?”
In response, I cough. The timing couldn’t be worse. “It’ll take a few days to get it all done, but I’m okay.”
“You know you can’t stay here, right?”
Brows pinched, I assess him. “Where else would I stay?”
“Breathing all this in can’t be healthy.”
Nastya watches me, chewing her cheek, the wheels turning in her head.
She’s going to side with him, isn’t she?
“Actually, I think Hade is right,” she says, confirming my suspicion. “All this soot in the air can’t be good for your lungs.”
“And where would I go?” I ask her.
